Replication Guide for Following the Money?  How Donor Information Affects Public Opinion about Initiatives

One main dataset and one supplemental file are used for the analyses in Following the Money.  The dataset, donor_1.xls, contains the responses of participants in an online survey we conducted during the 2016 general election in California.  The supplemental file, study2_demographics.xls, contains demographic information about participants in the online survey.  The text of the online survey is available in the Online Appendix.  The survey dataset (donor_1.xls) and its accompanying codebook can be found in the main folder, 2012 PRQ.  The supplemental dataset (study2_demographics.xls) and its accompanying codebook can be found in the folder, Tables A9 and A11.

The following instructions will allow interested users to reproduce all tables and figures in the article and online appendix.  Each set of materials and commands are organized under folders we used to store these files on our computers.  We have included a zipped file, FollowingtheMoney_combined.zip, that includes all files in the dataverse and retains our original file structure.  We have also uploaded copies of all individual files.  In running the command files, the user will need to correct the file paths, locating each file as appropriate.  All files uploaded to the Harvard Dataverse are listed and described herein.

All of the analyses in the article and supporting information were performed using STATA 13.1.  All of the analysis datasets are saved as text files, Excel (Microsoft Excel 2010) files or STATA files.


2012 PRQ

The file, donor_1.xls, contains the responses of participants in the online survey we conducted during the 2016 general election in California.

The file, donor_1_codebook.pdf, describes the variables in donor_1.xls.


Tables and Figures in the Article and Supporting Information

Following the Money Table A1 and Figures 1 and 2

The STATA do file, Table A1.do, opens the analysis dataset, donor_1.xls, recodes variables for respondents� characteristics and estimates the three probit models of respondents� support for eight California ballot initiatives in Table A1 of the online appendix.  The bottom of the file uses the CLARIFY package to generate predicted probabilities and first differences.  These predicted probabilities and first differences are saved in three log files (Table A1 all.log, Table A1 strong.log, and Table A1 weak.log) and an Excel file (Table A1 prob estimates.xls).  The first differences are plotted in Figures 1 and 2 of the article.

The STATA do file, Figure 1.do, plots predicted probabilities generated from the �All Initiatives� probit model in Table A1 using CLARIFY.  These probabilities are captured in the log file Table A1 all.log, and Excel file Table A1 prob estimates.xls.

The STATA do file, Figure 2.do, plots predicted first differences generated from the �Weak Prior Attitudes� and �Strong Prior Attitudes� probit models in Table A1 using CLARIFY.  These first differences are captured in the log files Table A1 weak.log and Table A1 strong.log, and Excel file Table A1 prob estimates.xls.


Following the Money Table A2 and Figure 3

The STATA do file, Table A2.do, opens the analysis dataset, donor_1.xls, recodes variables for respondents� characteristics and estimates the three probit models of respondents� support for eight California ballot initiatives in Table A2 of the online appendix.  The bottom of the file uses the CLARIFY package to generate predicted probabilities and first differences.  These predicted probabilities and first differences are saved in three log files (Table A2 all.log, Table A2 strong.log, and Table A2 weak.log) and an Excel file (Table A2 prob estimates.xls).  The first differences are plotted in Figure 3 of the article.

The STATA do file, Figure 3.do, plots predicted first differences generated from the �All Initiatives� probit model in Table A2 using CLARIFY.  These first differences are captured in the log file Table A2 all.log, and Excel file Table A2 prob estimates.xls.


Following the Money Table A3 and Figure A1

The STATA do file, Table A3.do, opens the analysis dataset, donor_1.xls, recodes variables for respondents� ratings, and performs the two-sample t-tests of respondents� ratings of the Democratic and Republican parties, the LAO and 29 donors to initiative campaigns in Table A3 of the online appendix.  These ratings are plotted in Figure A1 of the online appendix.

The STATA do file, Figure A1.do, plots respondents� ratings of the Democratic and Republican parties, the LAO and 29 donors to initiative campaigns.


Following the Money Tables A4 and A5 and Figure 4

The STATA do file, Tables A4 and A5.do, opens the analysis dataset, donor_1.xls, recodes variables for respondents� ratings, and performs the two-sample t-tests of respondents� ratings of the Democratic and Republican parties, the LAO and 29 donors to initiative campaigns in Tables A4 and A5 of the online appendix.  These ratings are plotted in Figure 4 of the article.

The STATA do file, Figure 4.do, plots low- and high-knowledge respondents� ratings of the Democratic and Republican parties, the LAO and 29 donors to initiative campaigns.


Following the Money Table A6 and Figures A2 and A3

The STATA do file, Table A6.do, opens the analysis dataset, donor_1.xls, recodes variables for respondents� characteristics and estimates the three probit models of respondents� support for eight California ballot initiatives in Table A6 of the online appendix.  The bottom of the file uses the CLARIFY package to generate predicted probabilities and first differences.  These predicted probabilities and first differences are saved in three log files (Table A6 all.log, Table A6 strong.log, and Table A6 weak.log) and an Excel file (Table A6 prob estimates.xls).  The predicted probabilities are plotted in Figure A3 of the article.

The STATA do file, Figure A2.do, plots CF Scores of the Democratic and Republican parties and 29 donors to initiative campaigns.

The STATA do file, Figure A3.do, plots predicted probabilities generated from the �All Initiatives� probit model in Table A6 using CLARIFY.  These first differences are captured in the log file Table A6 all.log, and Excel file Table A6 prob estimates.xls.


Following the Money Table A7

The STATA do file, Table A7.do, opens the analysis dataset, donor_1.xls, recodes variables for respondents� characteristics, and performs the two-sample t-tests of respondents� reaction times in Table A7 of the online appendix.


Following the Money Tables A8 and A10

The STATA do file, Table A8.do, opens the analysis dataset, donor_1.xls, recodes variables for respondents� ratings, and performs the two-sample t-tests of respondents� ratings of the Democratic and Republican parties, and 29 donors to initiative campaigns in Table A8 of the online appendix.

The STATA do file, Table A10.do, opens the analysis dataset, donor_1.xls, recodes variables for respondents� characteristics and performs the two-sample t-tests of respondents� strength of attitudes about the eight California ballot initiatives in Table A10 of the online appendix.


Following the Money Tables A9 and A11

The supplemental file, study2_demographics.xls, contains demographic information about participants in the online survey.

The file, study2_demographics_codebook.pdf, describes the variables in study2_demographics.xls.

The STATA do file, Tables A9 and A11.do, opens the analysis dataset, donor_1.xls, recodes variables for respondents� characteristics, merges demographic variables from the supplemental dataset, study2_demographics.xls, and tabulates the statistics reported in Table A9 of the online appendix.  The bottom of the file recodes variables for respondents� characteristics and performs the manipulation checks in Table A11 of the online appendix.


Following the Money Table A13 and Figure A4

The STATA do file, Table A13.do, opens the analysis dataset, donor_1.xls, recodes variables for respondents� characteristics and estimates the probit model of high-knowledge respondents� support for California ballot initiatives with redundant short descriptions in Table A4 of the online appendix.  The bottom of the file uses the CLARIFY package to generate predicted probabilities and first differences.  These predicted probabilities and first differences are saved in the log file Table 13.log and the Excel file Table A13 prob estimates.xls.  The first differences are plotted in Figure A4 of the online appendix.

The STATA do file, Figure A4.do, plots predicted first differences generated from the �All Initiatives� probit model in Table A13 using CLARIFY.  These probabilities are captured in the log file Table A13.log, and Excel file Table A13 prob estimates.xls.


Following the Money Table A14 and Figures A5 and A6

The STATA do file, Table A14.do, opens the analysis dataset, donor_1.xls, recodes variables for respondents� characteristics and estimates the three probit models of respondents� level of support for eight California ballot initiatives in Table A14 of the online appendix.  The bottom of the file uses the CLARIFY package to generate predicted probabilities and first differences.  These predicted probabilities and first differences are saved in three log files (Table A14 all.log, Table A14 strong.log, and Table A14 weak.log) and an Excel file (Table A14 prob estimates.xls).  The first differences are plotted in Figures A5 and A6 of the online appendix.

The STATA do file, Figure A5.do, plots predicted probabilities generated from the �All Initiatives� probit model in Table A14 using CLARIFY.  These probabilities are captured in the log file Table A14 all.log, and Excel file Table A14 prob estimates.xls.

The STATA do file, Figure A6.do, plots predicted first differences generated from the �Weak Prior Attitudes� and �Strong Prior Attitudes� probit models in Table A14 using CLARIFY.  These first differences are captured in the log files Table A14 weak.log and Table A14 strong.log, and Excel file Table A14 prob estimates.xls.


Following the Money Tables A15 A16 and A17 and Figures A7 and A8

The STATA do file, Tables A15 A16 and A17.do, opens the analysis dataset, donor_1.xls, recodes variables for respondents� characteristics, including three alternative measures of political knowledge.  After tabulating the percentages of respondents answering 1-5 knowledge questions correctly in Table A15, the do file estimates the probit models of respondents� support for eight California ballot initiatives in Tables A16 and A17 of the online appendix.  The bottom of the file uses the CLARIFY package to generate predicted probabilities and first differences.  These predicted probabilities and first differences are saved in three log files (Table A16 know2 lower.log, Table A16 know4 higher.log, and Table A17 know3 sco.log) and an Excel file (Table A2 prob estimates.xls).  The first differences are plotted in Figures A7 and A8 of the online appendix.

The STATA do file, Figures A7 and A8.do, plots predicted first differences generated from the �Lower Cutoff� and �Higher Cutoff� probit models in Table A16 and the �All Initiatives� model in Table A17 using CLARIFY.  These first differences are captured in the log files Table A16 know2 lower.log, Table A16 know4 higher.log, and Table A17 know3 sco.log, and Excel file Tables A16 and A17 prob estimates.xls.


Following the Money Table A18 and Figures A9 and A10

The STATA do file, Table A18.do, opens the analysis dataset, donor_1.xls, recodes variables for respondents� characteristics and estimates the three probit models of respondents� support for eight California ballot initiatives in Table A18 of the online appendix.  The bottom of the file uses the CLARIFY package to generate predicted probabilities and first differences.  These predicted probabilities and first differences are saved in three log files (Table A18 all.log, Table A18 strong.log, and Table A18 weak.log) and an Excel file (Table A18 prob estimates.xls).  The first differences are plotted in Figures A9 and A10 of the online appendix.

The top half of STATA do file, Figures A9 and A10.do, plots predicted probabilities generated from the �All Initiatives� probit model in Table A18 using CLARIFY.  These probabilities are captured in the log file Table A18 all.log, and Excel file Table A18 prob estimates.xls.

The bottom half of STATA do file, Figure A9 and A10.do, plots predicted first differences generated from the �Weak Prior Attitudes� and �Strong Prior Attitudes� probit models in Table A18 using CLARIFY.  These first differences are captured in the log files Table A18 weak.log and Table A18 strong.log, and Excel file Table A18 prob estimates.xls.


Following the Money Table A19 and Figure A11

The STATA do file, Table A19.do, opens the analysis dataset, donor_1.xls, recodes variables for respondents� characteristics and estimates the probit models of respondents� support for each of the eight California ballot initiatives in Table A19 of the online appendix.  The bottom of the file uses the CLARIFY package to generate predicted probabilities and first differences.  These predicted probabilities and first differences are saved in eight log files (init1_all.log-init8_all.log) and an Excel file (Table A19 prob estimates.xls).  The first differences are plotted in Figure A11 of the online appendix.

The STATA do file, Figure A11.do, plots predicted probabilities generated from the eight probit models in Table A19 using CLARIFY.  These probabilities are captured in the log files init1_all-init8_all, and Excel file Table A19 prob estimates.xls.


Following the Money Table A20 and Figure A12

The STATA do file, Table A20.do, opens the analysis dataset, donor_1.xls, recodes variables for respondents� characteristics and estimates the probit models of respondents� support for each of the eight California ballot initiatives in Table A20 of the online appendix.  The bottom of the file uses the CLARIFY package to generate predicted probabilities and first differences.  These predicted probabilities and first differences are saved in eight log files (init1_know.log-init8_know.log) and an Excel file (Table A20 prob estimates.xls).  The first differences are plotted in Figure A12 of the online appendix.

The STATA do file, Figure A12.do, plots predicted probabilities generated from the eight probit models in Table A20 using CLARIFY.  These probabilities are captured in the log files init1_know-init8_know, and Excel file Table A20 prob estimates.xls.

The bottom half of STATA do file, Figure A12.do, plots predicted first differences generated from the �Weak Prior Attitudes� and �Strong Prior Attitudes� probit models in Table A20 using CLARIFY.  These first differences are captured in the log files init1_know.log-init8_know.log, and Excel file Table A20 prob estimates.xls.




